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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Oroville Update: Survival Window Is Closing

Oroville Lake levels are rising
Spillway hillside at heightened risk of collapse
All water outflow has been stopped to ease collapse risk
Feather river being deepened to mitigate risk of hillside collapse
Rain is forecast, zero outflow cannot be maintained for ever, hence the survival window is closing.

Any or all of the following situations we believe require IMMEDIATE risk mitigation actions

1. Hillside landslide blocking Feather river
2. Flooded Power House
3. Any use of Spillways combined with High Lake levels

Expected actions from the CA_DWR included:

1 Deepening the channel flowing around the debris dam
2 Lining the debris dam to prevent erosion from Power House flow
3 Stabilize eroded areas of the spillway hillside

The limited ability to carry out the above 3 actions is what is closing the survival window.